2023 Presidency: My restructuring agenda, intact, will be implemented from first day in office — Atiku

…Vows to uphold press freedom

…To partner OPS in closing infrastructure deficit

By Idris Bakare

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said his plan to restructure Nigeria is intact and would be implemented from his first of office if elected president.

This is just as he vowed to uphold press freedom if he wins the 2023 presidential election.

He made this known when he engaged members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos state.

He also used the opportunity of the interactive session to reel out his plans for Nigerians as contained in his manifesto titled “My Covenant with Nigerians” and the Recover Agenda of the PDP.

“It is rather unfortunate that a section of the media reported my remarks at an event yesterday in a way that casts doubts on my readiness to implement my restructuring agenda.

“Let me therefore, use the opportunity of this gathering today with the gatekeepers of the Nigerian media to say that my restructuring agenda is intact and it will be implemented from my first day in office.

“Already, I have received a report from a team of constitutional law experts which I assembled to look into our constitution and highlight areas where there are items that can be moved to the concurrent and residual lists of the constitution.

“Let me tell you that I will start work on the implementation of that report from my very first day in office if I am elected president next year,” Atiku said.

However, he said his administration would work closely with the private sector towards ensuring that the gaps in infrastructure deficits are closed.

“The private sector is pivotal to my agenda to rejuvenate the economy and close our infrastructure deficit gaps. If I am elected president, I will work closely with the private sector by giving them incentives to create more jobs and also grant them tax holidays, in order for them to intervene in our infrastructure development.

“It is obvious to all that the government doesn’t have all the money and the debt burden has continued to weigh us down. Therefore, the government has to be creative and engaging the private sector is one way of solving our infrastructure problems in a sustainable way,” Atiku said.